Thomas w



(No Model.)

I wwaa Patented Aug. 23, I898. T. W. CAPEN.

STAMP MILL.

{Application filed Dec. 18, 1897.)

INVENTOR 22%;... W

V ATTORNEYS.

THOMAS w. CAPEN, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GATES IRON WORKS, or SAME PLACE.

STAMP-MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,408, dated August 23, 1898. A li ti fil d December 18, 1897. Serial No. 662,370. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, THOMAS W. CAPEN, citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Mills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of stampmills known as battery -mills, in which there are two or more stamp-stems arranged and adapted to be operated in a vertical plane by the movements of arotating shaft.

The object of my invention is to provide a stamp-mill with simple, economical, and efficient guide-blocks; and the invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stamp guide-rail, showing the guides and blocks attached thereto; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view taken through one guide and block on line 2 of Fig. 1 lookingin the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the quarter-pieces of which the guide-blocks are composed, and Fig. 4 a perspective View of the cap for holding the block in place.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that the guide -blocks in which the stamp-stems reciprocate are usu ally held in position by means of bolts and nuts and that such bolts and nuts are apt to become loosened owing to the jar caused by the operations of the mechanism. It is further well known that these guide-blocks are subject to considerable wear and have to be repaired and renewed at frequent intervals. The principal object of my invention, therefore, is to remove the objections above stated and provide simple, economical, and efficient guides and holding mechanism by which they may be held in operative position without the use of bolts or nuts and to renew or repair the blocks in an economical manner.

In illustrating and describing my improvements I will only illustrate and describe those parts which I consider to be new, in connection with so much of the mechanism as is old those skilled in the art to practice the same,

leaving out of consideration other and wellknown mechanisms which if illustrated and described here might lead to prolixity, confusion, and ambiguity.

In constructing a stampmill in accordance with my improvements I use a guide-rail A, which is connected withthe standards of the frame portion or battery-posts (not shown) and in which the guides are supported. To construct the guides, I use a base-piece B, which is provided with longitudinal and transverse tongues 19 and b,arranged in proper grooves in the guide-rail. This guide when made to receive several stamp-stems is provided with several projecting ribs 13, B B B and 13 which, in connection with the base-piece, form substantially V-shapedholding-grooves 12 The ribs are preferably T- shaped, so as to provide projecting flanges b for the purpose of locking the caps O in position by means of the wedge-shaped keys 0.

The guide-block D is formed in quarter-sections D, made from square timbers about two by two and cut into desired lengths, one corner (1 taken off and the opposite corner cl concaved, so thatwhen the four pieces are all together they form the block, as shown in perspective view of Fig. 1. It will be seen that this process of forming the blocks is very economical and that the timber for forming the guide-blocks is of commercial size and. may always be kept in stock or obtained readily to meet emergencies.

To hold the guide-blocks in position, they are all slotted or grooved transversely, as at (1 The base-plates are provided with longitudinal perforations c, in which pins E may be inserted and prevent vertical movement of the rear guide-blocks. These locking-pins are provided with cotters c to prevent their displacement. The side quarter-sections of the guide-block are also slotted transversely, as shown in Fig. 3, so that pins E'in the cap may be inserted to prevent their upward or vertical movement,while the cap is provided with a transverse web 6, adapted to enter the transverse slotin the front guide-block section and prevent its vertical movement. By driving in the wedge-shaped key between the flanges and cap the pieces are held secure, and as the narrow portion of the key is to ward the bottom it will be seen that the downward movement of the key tends to tighten the parts and not to loosen them.

When it is desired to remove or renew a part of the guide-block, it can be done without disturbing the stamp-stem in any way.

. For instance, if it is desired to remove the rear block the pin E is withdrawn, the wedgekey a loosened, and the rear quarter of the block raised and removed from its place and a new one put in. When it is desired to remove the side quarters, the keys 0 are taken out and the cap drawn outwardly, so that the ends of the pins are removed from engagement with the perforations or slots 0 in the base-plate. The cap is then raised, carrying with it the side guide-blocks, so that they may be removed and new ones inserted, if desired.

It will thus be seen that all bolts are dis pensed with and that the guide-blocks may be made from commercial timber and at a minimum cost. Further, one section of the guide-block may serve for any quarter, and any section may be taken out and others inserted Without in any way disturbing the stamps. It Will also be seen that the guide may be tightened in all directionsthat is, when the hole in the guide-block is worn the side (1 may be planed off, so as to compensate for the wear.

While I have described my invention with more or less minuteness as regards details and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire to be limited thereto unduly or any more than is pointed out in the claims. On the contrary, I contemplate all proper changes in form, construction, and arrangement, the omission of immaterial elements, and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.

I claim-- I 1. In a stamp-mill the combination of a base-piece having a \l-shaped vertical holdin g groove or grooves therein, a cap for each vertical groove provided witha substantially \l-shaped groove, which in connection with the grooves of the base-piece forms a diamond shaped holding-groove, guide-blocks formed in sections in each holding-groove, and means for securing the cap and the base-piece together, substantially as described.

2. In a stamp-mill, the combination of a base-piece having a substantially V-shaped vertical groove therein for holding the guideblock, projecting flange portions, a cap or caps arranged between the flanges provided with substantially V-shaped grooves forming in connection with the base-piece a diamondshaped groove, guide-blocks formed in sections arranged in the holding-groove formed by the base-piece, the flanges and the cap, and keys for holding the parts in operative position, substantially as described.

3. In a stamp-mill, the combination of a base piece having substantially V- shaped grooves therein for holding the guide-blocks, projecting ribs having flanges with V-shaped grooves on the outer end thereof, cap portion or portions arranged between the flanges and providing in combination with the base a diamond-shaped vertical holding-groove, guideblocks formed in quarter-sections arranged in the holding-groove, and wed ge-keys arranged between the caps and flanges to hold the parts in position, substantially as described.

4:. In a stamp-mill, the combination of a base piece having substantially V shaped grooves therein, projecting T-shaped flanged ribs thereon, cap portions arranged between the projecting flanged ribs and forming in connection with the basepiece asubstantially diamond-shaped holding-groove, guide-blocks formed in quarter-sections having transverse slots engaged by removable portions on the cap and base-piece so as to hold the same in position and allow them to be removed when desired, and wedge-shaped keys interposed between the caps and the flanged ribs to hold the parts in operative position, substantially as described.

THOMAS WV. OAPEN.

' Witnesses:

P. W. GATES, H. XV. HOYT. 

